Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe may be lighting up the stat sheets this season, but off the pitch, tension is brewing. The French superstar—statistically one of the best performers at the Santiago Bernabeu—has found himself at the center of growing discontent, and it's not just about his hamstring injury. As he races to recover in time for El Clasico, his recent off-field antics have raised eyebrows.
Over the weekend, while Real Madrid was battling Espanyol in a crucial La Liga clash to keep Barcelona from pulling away, Mbappe was spotted stepping off a private jet at Madrid's airport after a trip to Sardinia with his girlfriend, Ester Exposito. The timing couldn't have been worse. In Spanish media, the move was labeled as disrespectful, and even manager Alvaro Arbeloa—without naming names—questioned his commitment. For a player of Mbappe's caliber, perception matters as much as performance.
According to reports from Marca, this isn't an isolated incident. Between a trip to Paris in March while injured and this latest jaunt to Cagliari during a delicate moment for the team, Mbappe's choices have not only irked fans but also stirred unease in the dressing room. The vibe? Distant. Many teammates and coaches reportedly feel more affection for Vinicius Junior than for Mbappe, a telling sign of a fractured relationship.
Diario AS adds that while Mbappe had permission to recover in Cagliari, his lack of discretion upon returning to Madrid has backfired. The club wasn't banking on a public fallout, but here we are. Now, all eyes are on his fitness. Mbappe is set for further tests on Wednesday to determine if he can suit up this weekend when Real Madrid travels to Camp Nou for El Clasico. But here's the twist: Sport reports that President Florentino Perez is furious with Mbappe's attitude. Despite the pending tests, Perez expects him on the pitch against Barcelona—no excuses.
After two years without a major trophy, the pressure is mounting. Mbappe's goal record remains undeniable, but the team's dysfunction and lack of silverware have put a spotlight on every star. Increasingly, Mbappe is being labeled part of the problem, not the solution. For a player who arrived with so much promise, the narrative is shifting fast—and El Clasico could be the stage where he either silences the critics or fuels the fire.